Willie Mitchell brought the Stanley Cup to Port McNeill and Rod Brind’Amour to Campbell River. Will its next Island destination be the Saanich Peninsula?
And no, not to the Central Saanich household of the Benn brothers, who are now both out of the 2017 Stanley Cup race.
Not to jinx it, but Matt Irwin and the Nashville Predators are undefeated in the Stanley Cup playoffs heading into tonight’s Game 2 in St. Louis of the second-round series against the Blues.
“This is unbelievable,” said the Predators defenceman Irwin, the Peninsula Minor Hockey product who hails from Brentwood Bay, and now plays in the unlikely setting of the country music capital of the world.
“I have never heard a building as loud as ours was in the first round against Chicago. The support in Nashville is incredible. It has grown over the years and the fans have become very knowledgeable about hockey,” added Irwin, the former Saanich Braves Junior B player, whose No. 44 jersey is retired and hanging from the rafters of Pearkes Arena.
Within the larger Preds story, Irwin has fashioned his own personal tale of redemption in Music City USA after being bought out from his Boston Bruins contract. His NHL career seemingly at a standstill last season, the Islander has carved his own niche this season by providing solid depth minutes on a potent Nashville blue line that includes P.K. Subban, Ryan Ellis, Mattias Ekholm and Roman Josi.
“Last year was a disappointment, to say the least,” said Irwin, about the 2015-16 season spent in the American Hockey League.
The AHL is where the Predators also started Irwin this season after acquiring him. But that lasted only four games before the call-up came and he hasn’t looked back in logging 74 regular-season games and now all five playoff games in Nashville.
“With an early injury [on the Preds] blue line came my opportunity. I had been in the NHL before [three seasons with the San Jose Sharks] so I wasn’t nervous like a younger player because I know how to play at this level,” said the 29-year-old former BCHL Nanaimo Clippers junior standout.
“You have to believe in yourself. I took my chance in stride and pushed forward.”
And found his place.
“Our top four defencemen are so creative offensively and solid defensively. For me, it’s about giving consistent minutes on the third pairing,” said Irwin.
That he has been doing and is now getting some notice in the media for his understated, yet valuable in its own way, role with the Predators.
“I am keeping my game simple, but if I see a chance, I will jump up in the rush,” said Irwin.
While also jumping up hopes among Brentwood Bay locals of seeing the Stanley Cup in the neighbourhood this summer.
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